That article is weird, for me at least. I very clearly remember when a bunch of kids around the age of six and seven learned to bike, all at the same time. All it took was a woman's bicycle, the old type (I should say "very old" type at this point. Big wheels too), easy for kids. The kids had to stand up, not sit (too big bicycle), and all it took was a single run with someone holding the seat, and letting go after a short while. That was it. No further training required. And that was indeed how I myself learned to bike as well, when I was a kid. Training wheels didn't exist, and are in my opinion pointless unless you want your three year old "bike". For older children it actively does harm.
> all it took was a single run with someone holding the seat
I think this is the key - holding the seat. The author of the article says "I did so in the usual manner - have her sit on the seat while I grab the handlebars and run along side her" - this surprised me, it would never occur to me to grab handlebars. I am not sure why exactly, it's an intuitive thing. As a lifelong road cyclist and an ex-racer, I have a pretty good feel for a bike... and you don't actually steer with handlebars, you "steer" (as in 'control where the bike is going') with your ass (which is why every experienced cyclist can easily turn with both hands off the handlebar). Someone grabbing your handlebars would misalign where your body is going vs where your front wheel is going and this makes you fall.
EDIT: I just realized that "steer with your ass" is something our coach used to say when we were kids. I think "your ass" is a kid-friendly proxy for "your center of mass".
Grabbing the handlebars is the absolute worst way to try to teach someone, no wonder the author had problems. I can't believe that this is "the usual manner" either, or at least I hope so (for the sake of the children)
Both my kids were able to use the bike at 3 years old. The training wheels should not be used even this young. They first learned using a balance bike, and then learning to pedal went very smoothly using the same technique you mentioned.
That's true - we didn't have them when I was young and the first time I saw one was in Germany, and indeed very young kids can use them. The one I saw that first time had some kind of spring/suspension system so that the little tyke could build up a frighteningly high speed by "pumping" the bike!
The fact that it worked for you doesn't mean it works for most people
Also the people that are 'good with bikes' are the absolute dog shit at teaching other people how to do it. In fact I consider every advice from them with the maximum caution possible, because it is, a lot of times, actually harmful
Note that I did say "a bunch of kids". That was essentially all the kids in the neighbourhood. I only mentioned myself's experience elsewhere in my post.
As for the "teacher".. I forgot to mention that: The kids did it all by themselves. One of the older kids, i.e. 7 or 8, would hold the seat and run behind/besides the kid learning to bike. The trick was clearly to stay far enough behind so that the kid learning didn't notice when the "teacher" let go of the seat.
